Chapter 190
Chapter 190
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 190
Chapter Title: The Cult (1)
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Near Gwangju, in a large orchard in Jeollanam-do.
The orchard, brimming with the full bloom of spring, stretched out endlessly with lush peach trees.
At first glance, it was an idyllic rural scene. But the workers toiling there had vacant stares in their eyes.
Until someone appeared along the roadside.
“The Prophet Mother has arrived! Hallelujah! Hallelujah!”
“Thank you, Mother! May you remain holy forever in the Lord’s embrace!”
The fanatics removed their straw hats and bowed deeply in reverence.
For those whose bodies and minds were utterly enslaved to [The Lord’s Garden], the cult leader Park Geum-deok was no different from a god.
Of course, she showed no change in expression, as if their praise meant nothing to her.
“Evangelist, when’s the top devotee supposed to arrive? It won’t be easy for him to clear his schedule because of Princess Hina.”
“He’s coming down tomorrow evening. He took a day off using his late mother’s death anniversary as an excuse—she was from Jeollanam-do.”
She nodded lightly instead of replying and headed toward the secluded rear garden.
Gazing at the peach trees just now bursting into bloom, she brushed a pink petal with her fingertip and smiled in satisfaction.
“Good, very good. If things go well with the Japan deal… I’ll be done herding these livestock in this godforsaken countryside. I’ll hand it over to the underlings.”
The evangelist flinched and glanced around nervously. Only after confirming no one was watching did he let out a sigh of relief and speak.
“Prophet Mother, please be careful. If any devotee overhears…”
“The livestock are too busy farming to hear. And you don’t need to play along with that ‘Prophet Mother’ nonsense right now.”
The evangelist was Park Geum-deok’s cousin.
He scanned the surroundings once more, then lowered his voice to reveal his true thoughts.
“Based on the World Church precedent, their revenue is at least ten times the Korean market. No, it has potential up to a hundred times.”
The cult World Church, which had exploded in popularity in Japan.
For Park Geum-deok and the evangelist, their goal had never been some nonexistent faith.
It was simply to build their own kingdom on the blood, sweat, and tears of brainwashed devotees.
“Exactly. Once we rake in those bundles of cash from idiots, won or yen, no difference…”
Just then, a chill wind blew through the peach trees.
The exhaustion of devotees who had lost even the will to think brushed against Park Geum-deok’s cheek on the breeze.
Lips curling into a greedy smile, she continued.
“Who knows? I might end up as the owner of a chaebol group the size of Ammunition Group, just like World Church.”
“The kingdom Noona is planning is entirely feasible. But to make it happen, first…”
The evangelist reverted to his calm tone. He pointed toward the devotees and said,
“We need to periodically brainwash those livestock over there.”
“Hmm…”
“Lately, there are signs their control is loosening.”
“How many defected last year total?”
“A little over twenty. And I can still spot a few waverers.”
No matter how much they controlled actions, information, communication, and emotions, human reason would poke its head out from the brainwashing.
For them, where devotees were the cash flow, labor, and sales force, defectors were fatal.
“So the group prayers we’re doing now aren’t enough. Should we add more drugs to the incense burned during prayers?”
“The hallucinogen is so potent… After the group prayer, they’re laid out for three or four days, which is the problem.”
“So we need some drastic measure.”
They didn’t hesitate even at illegal drug use, but they were hitting a wall.
Park Geum-deok tilted her head in thought. Soon, an evil grin bloomed on her wrinkled face, contrasting sharply with the beautiful peach blossoms.
“What if we move up the schedule a bit for the ‘sacrifices’ in the underground prison?”
“Didn’t you say they were for Prophet Mother’s birthday celebration?”
“Birthday’s in November. You expect us to wait seven months in this situation?”
Exchanging words that sent chills down the spine, they headed toward a building in a remote corner.
The rusty iron door creaked open with a eerie groan. Descending the concrete stairs to the hidden underground entrance, they were greeted by a dark, damp secret space.
“Princess Hina. Once that girl’s brainwashing is done, let’s offer a big sacrifice. We’ll declare our grand advance into Japan for [The Lord’s Garden].”
An indescribable stench wafted from inside the iron-barred cell.
“Mmph! Mmph-mmph-mmph…!”
There… two foreigners from Israel lay prone, hands and feet bound, gags in their mouths, tears streaming down their faces.
“Doctrine says Jews killed Jesus, so they’re enemies of the church. We’ll strengthen our bonds with their lives. Take good care of the sacrifices until then.”
“Yes, Noona. I’ll keep it in mind.”
The rusty hinges clanged shut with a grim sound.
Thud, thud. Beyond the footsteps ascending the concrete stairs, only the Israelis’ muffled screams remained.
* * * *
Whether it’s people or companies, naming something is incredibly tough.
It’s not just coming up with names myself. Evaluating ones others have made is no easy feat either.
Especially when the creator is my mom.
“Nuclear Weapon Entertainment…?”
“What do you think? Doesn’t even sound pretty good to my son?”
Uh, it’s not… good, Mom.
Out of all the great names, why name an entertainment agency “Nuclear Weapon”?
Sure, our Ammunition Group name isn’t exactly normal either, but at least it fits a defense industry identity.
I swallowed all the thoughts bubbling up inside and cautiously asked Mom.
“Mom, this company name feels a bit off… Got any other ideas?”
“Oh, come on! What’s wrong with Nuclear Weapon Enter?”
No, there’s something wrong with it, Mom.
It’s a company made for Princess Hina, and nuclear weapons just feel wrong.
Like ‘Little Boy’ or ‘Fat Man’—stuff that could trigger trauma associations.
“If it were Ammunition Entertainment, maybe. But Nuclear Weapon is too out there, isn’t it…?”
“You know if we slap ‘Ammunition’ on it, people will bash the chaebol group for blatantly invading the culture industry.”
At that moment, when I thought getting some flak might be better, Mom’s next words hit my weakest spot.
“Of course, I did want it tied to the group a little.”
“Huh…?”
“It’s a company you made for your mom’s pastime, so I didn’t want it looking totally unrelated. That’s how Nuclear Weapon came about.”
Mom appealing to emotion.
Now… I give up.
Anyway, it’s not a business for profit. In the end, I raised the white flag.
“…Do whatever you want, Mom.”
“That’s my boy. You’ve got an eye for it! Oh, take a look at this.”
“What’s this?”
Mom handed me a USB, saying she’d whipped up an entertainment business plan.
I opened the file without much expectation.
But… it hid insights beyond what I’d imagined.
“Wait. Mom, you planned this? Yourself?”
“I’ve eaten my share of that rice too. After hearing from juniors and industry folks, I got a sense of how it works.”
A major corporation’s strategy from before my regression: pouring investment into an entertainment agency, snagging shares, and turning it into a subsidiary.
Mom’s USB contained something eerily similar—rough and unpolished, but sincere.
An admiring exclamation slipped out before I knew it.
“Did you come from the future…?”
“You brat, such a mean joke. Anyway, this is just a ‘wouldn’t it be nice if’ concept for the future. For now, focus on a girl group business.”
Mom had come prepared. Even before the company was established, the details were outlined.
“And recruiting for the company talent pool is going smoothly. Most importantly, I locked in Princess Hina from the very start.”
“That girl was all excited about hunting down Seoul restaurants.”
“What’s a girl group trainee doing with restaurants? From now on, approved foods are chicken breast, brown rice, and salad—those three only. No outings for at least three months.”
Mom’s ironclad measures cleared my head. This was taming a wild girl.
All that awaited her debut was secluded training. No high-calorie stuff like military dumplings, of course.
“Well, Princess Hina should be fine at this rate.”
After sending Mom off, I sank deep into my chair. For once, everything seemed to be running smoothly.
Too smoothly, almost suspiciously.
“Her entourage doesn’t have anything special either.”
I’d had Ammunition Group’s intel team look into it, but nothing problematic.
The one called Maria was a bit unusual—her late mom was Korean or something.
Not worth reporting to the president. Stretching with a happy smile, I rolled up my sleeves.
“Guess everything worked out. Time to clear the backlog before heading to Japan.”
Predictable stuff is fun no matter how much you do.
I thought I could enjoy this peaceful life for a while.
Until a few months later, in peach-scented summer, when I realized how naive that was.
* * * *
“What? Suddenly?”
A few months later, on a peaceful summer day.
Mom’s sudden call was like a signal flare announcing a new obstacle in my life.
“No, things were going well—why’d they cut the slot?”
-Exactly. It’s a real headache. We scheduled it tight for debut…
Princess Hina’s debut was two months away.
A cable show timed for it. But three days before shooting, the production company abruptly said no filming.
Completely one-sided, without any reason given.
“Is this normal in the industry?”
-No way. So… can you check if CJ E&M threw a wrench in it?
“Got it. Hold on.”
The content giant CJ E&M.
Mom’s suspicion made sense. Who else would pick a fight with [Nuclear Weapon Enter] backed by Ammunition Group?
I called their chairman direct, steeling myself. But… his response was light-years from what I expected.
-Chairman Han. Honestly, I’m a bit hurt. Sigh… CJ Group has a reputation to uphold. We’re not that thuggish, frankly.